Interchangeable gear drive means for rotary printing mechanism



Dec. 29, 1964 w. R. STELLING, JR 3,163,109

INTERCHANGEABLE GEAR YDH1-VE MEANS FOR ROTARY PRINTING MCHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 21, 1965 INVENTOR. muren P. STELLING JR.

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Affen/#EVS Dec- 29, 1954 I w. R. STELLING, JR 3,163,109

INTERCHANGEABLE GEAR DRIVE MEANS FOR ROTARY PRINTING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 21, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR WALTER R. STEM/N6 Je.

Afferma V5 Dec. 29, 1964 w R. STELLING, JR 3,163,109l

INTERCHANGEABLE GEAR DRIVE MEANS FOR ROTARY PRINTING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 2l 1965 I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR WALTER R. STELLING JR.

AffoR/vsvs United States Patent Ciitice 3,l63,l9 Patented Dec. 29, 1964 3,163,109 INTERCHANGEABLE GEAR DRIVE MEANS FOR RTARY PRINTING MECHANISM Walter R. Stelling, Jr., Wauw-attesa, Wis., assigner to Fanstel, Inc., Entier, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Jan. 2l, 1963, Ser. No. 252,749

7 Claims. (Cl. 1031-219) This invention relates in general to rotary printing press equipment oi the type having a plate cylinder, impression cylinder and an AniloX roll. More specifically, the invention relates to an improved gear drive connection between the impression cylinder and the plate cylinder..

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved gear drive unit between the impression cylinder and the plate cylinder, which unit permits the use of the same plate cylinder with at least three interchangeable gears having different numbers of teeth thereon. In this manner the same plate cylinder can be used, for example, in printing jobs requiring 56, 57 or 58 tooth repeat length operations. As a result the number of plate cylinders necessary is reduced to one-third the conventional number, thus effecting a great reduction in cost, while not sacrificing quality of printing.

Another aspect of the invention relates to the above arrangement in which exact registry may be maintained between the plate cylinder and the etched, Anilox roll, regardless of the interchangeable gear selected for use between the impression and plate cylinders.

The present invention permits the plate cylinder to be rst accurately set with respect to the impression cylinder in respect to proper printing pressure, and this adjustment includes a movement of the plate cylinder in a circumferential direction around the impression cylinder when a plate cylinder of different size is to be used; in any event, the swingable drive unit is then accurately positioned for drive engagement between the plate cylinder and impression cylinder` with the proper degree of gear pressure. The Anilox roll can be held in the same exact drive ratio with the plate cylinder.

The arrangement provided by the present invention results in a versatile printing press of economical construction which is eflicient and accurate in operation, and is readily setup for a variety or" different printing operations.

These and other objects and advantages will appear later as this disclosure progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of printing mechanism embodying the present invention, certain parts being shown as removed, broken away or in section, for clarity in the drawings;

FIGURE 2 is a spread out, plan view of certain of the mechanism shown in FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary, enlarged view of certain -parts as shown in FIGURE l; and

An impression cylinder IC of highly polished steel is journalled in the sides l'and 2 in anti-friction bearing assemblies (not shown) in the known manner. A large bull gear S is fixed to the impression cylinder for rotation with the cylinder as a unit. This bull gear is of smaller diameter than the impression cylinder and it transmits the driving power to the rest of the mechanism to be described.

Slidably mounted adjacent to the impression cylinder for adjustment relative thereto is a printing sub-assembly SA. This sub-assembly is slidable on the ways 8 of the sides 1 and 2, in a general direction towards and away from the impression cylinder as indicated by the arrow in FIGURE l.

The sub-assembly includes a plate cylinder PC which is supported in the side walls 10 and 11 of the sub-assembly, as will later more fully appear., an AniloX roll AR, and an ink roll IR. The Anilox and ink rolls are both mounted in side walls 13 and 14 with which they form a secondary sub-assembly SSA Slidably adjustable relative to the plate cylinder PC, on the ways 15 of sub-assembly SA.

The sub-assembly SA and its plate cylinder are adjustably positioned relative to the impression cylinder by the hand wheel 17 fixed to shaft 18 and the spaced gears 18a xed thereto. Shaft 18 is journalled in biiurcated extensions of the sides 1 and Z of the main frame. Gears 18a mesh with their respective feed screws 19 which are also rotatably supported by the main frame and are threadably engaged with their feed nuts 20 iiXed to the sub-assembly, In this manner, the plate cylinder can be adjusted to the proper printing pressure with the impression roll.

The secondary sub-assembly SSA is similarly adjustable by hand wheel 22, shaft 23, gears 24, feed screws 25 and feed nuts 26 iXed on the sub-assembly. The Anilox roll can thus be adjusted for proper ink transferring pressure with the plate cylinder.

In conventional practice, if plate cylinder PC was of a 57 tooth Arepeat length, then its associated gear PCG would have 57 teeth, and this conventional set-up is known as a 57 repeat length printing operation. If a 58 repeat length operation was desired, it is conventional to replace the entire printing cylinder with a cylinder having a 58 repeat length together with a 58 tooth gear. Similarly, if a 56 repeat plate was desired, a 56 repeat length plate cylinder and a 56 tooth gear would be used. In other words, it was necessary to change the entire plate cylinder and gear every time it was desired to change the repeat length.

This prior practice required a large number of plate cylinders and associated gears.

The plate cylinders may be of diierent diameters and are interchangeable on the sub-assembly frame. Forexample, the plate cylinder l-"C shown in full lines in FIG- URE 1 is a relatively large one, say for example, of a 60 inch repeat, making contact with the impression cylinder at thelocation 30. The smaller plate cylinder. PC1 indicated by the broken lines in FIGURE l, may be of a l0 inch repeat, and would contact the impression roll at 31, which is a distance circumferentially removed from point 30.

The plate cylinder is removably journalled in the walls it) and 1:1, as follows. Upper cap portions 32, one for each wall lt) and 1l, are held by cap screws 3.3 in embracing relationship with the saddle portions 34 of the walls. Portions 32 and 34 are complementary and oppose one another so as to embrace the anti-friction bearing assemblies 35 in which the shaft 36 ot the plate cylinder is journalled. Each end of the shaft has a diametrically reduced portion 37, 38 in which a keyway 39, di?, respectively is formed, and these keyways are located symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal center line of the press.

Any one of a number of dillerent plate cylinder gears PCG-is adapted to be secured to either portion 37 or 35 of shaft 36 by means of the keys 5l.

In acordance with the present invention, it has been found possible toV use a given repeat length plate cylinder not only for that specific repeat length, but also for a length slightly longer and also for a length slightly shorter; this is accomplished by permitting slipping between the plate cylinder and impression cylinder. In order to accommodate this permissible slipping, provision has been madefor (l) changing gears on a given plate cylinder, (2) a special swinging drive connection between the impression cylinder and the gear selected for the plate cylinder, and (3) the same drive ratio between any given set of an Anilox roll and its matching plate cylinder' and regardless ofthe drive between the plate cylinder and impression roll.

The invention can perhaps best be illustrated by using specitic values for certain elements, but it is understood, of course, that the invention should not be limited to any given set of values, for example, in regard to gear sizes or cylinder repeat lengths.

Referring again to the gear PCG on the shaft 36, assume it is a 57 tooth repeat length so that absolute registry with the impression cylinder occurs.

Gear PCG also meshes with a gear et) fixed on the Anilox roll shaft 6l and these gears must match perfectly in order that the etched Anilox roll is always in exact registry with the plate cylinder PC. In other words, the Anilox roll and plate cylinder must always match and when the latter is changed, a matching Anilox roll must also be used. Thus the plate cylinder and its matching Anilox roll must always register and stay on speed with one another.

rlChus if we assume a 57 tooth gear is used on the plate cylinder, then a 57 tooth gear oil must be used on the Anilox roll shaft 61.

Referring still again to the plate cylinder gear PCG, it is driven from the bull gear 5.0i the impression cylinder IC by a swinging automatic compensator assembly CA, now to be described, and by means of which diierent sizes of plate cylinder gears can be usedV and proper printing pressure still maintained between the plate and impressionrcylinders.

The compensator assembly includes a swingable bracket 7l)Y pivotally mounted on a stub shaft 7l fixed in the side 1 of thefpress frame. A compound gearl 72 is rotatably mounted on one end'of a shaft 73 which is threadably mounted as shown at 75a in the lower free end of bracket 70. The compound gear 72 includes a helical gear 7d and a spur gear 7S which is engageable with the selected plate cylinder gear PCG.

To. thek other end of shaft 73 is fixed a gear 76 which is turned'by a hydraulically operated gear 77 with which itis in constant mesh. Gear 77 is actuated through its shaft 7S which is connected to a double acting hydraulic motor 79 having pressure tiuid conduits Sil and 8l extending therefrom and connected to a source of pressure fluid (not shown). Plate members 79a and 7912 depend from shaft 73.and act to support the motor 79, shaft 73 and itsassociated gear 77'. This adjustment is for obtaining printing registry between the plate cylinder and the impression cylinder as will appear presently.

Securedto the other end of the pivot shaft 7l is another compound gear 82 having a Wide helical gear 84 which is engageable by gear 7d and also having a gear 85 which is in constant mesh with the bull gear S. Thus the power train is from bull gear 5 through gears d2, Sd, 74, 75 and to the gear PCG on the plate cylinder.

Por the purpose of obtaining registery between the plate cylinder and the impression cylinder, the helical gear is axially adjustable along the wide helical gear S4 by rotation o the gear 7o as previously menioned. ln other words, rotation of gear 76, which is slidably keyed by key 86 to shaft 73- causes shaft 73 and the compound gear 72 fixed thereto, to shift axially because ot the threaded engagement 73a, to effect registration.

Means are provided for swingably adjusting the bracket 7ll about its pivot axis 7l so as to bring gear 72 into proper mesh with the gear PCG selected for the plate cylinder, This means includes a hand adjusting wheel 90 fixed to shaft Ell to which is fixed the gear 92. A large gear 93 is fixed to the other end of shalt il and meshes with gear 92. Rotation of the handI wheel 9d in one direction or the other thus causes the bracket to swing toward or away from the plate cylinder. The bracket 94 in which the shaft Slt is journalled, is secured to the side of the main frame by cap bolts 9S.

The bracket is locned in any one of its selected positions by a cap bolt 95 that extends through the arcuate slot 97 in the bracket and is threadably engaged in the side l.

The above described drive arrangement would be used when the plate cylinder gear PCG is the same size as the plate cylinder, as previously mentioned as being a 57 tooth repeat length, for example. With the present invention, it is possible to print a longer or shorter length, say, for example, a 53 tooth repeat length, without changing the plate cylinder. This is accomplished as follows.

The compensator assembly would be loosened and swung out of mesh, and gear PCG removed from the operators end of shaft 37 and placed on the other end, namely, on portion 33 of the shaft 36. The Anilox roll would then be reversed end-for-end in the press so that its gear 60 continued to be in mesh with its mating gear PCG.

The mounting for the Anilox roll which permits its reversal is as follows. Mounting plungers loll and lill are provided in the walls i3 and 14, respectively, and are held captive therein by set screws i. By loosening the screws ltl, the plunger-s can be withdrawn outwardly to free the shaft 6l which is mounted therein on its ball bearing assemblies 63. The roll is then reversed end-torend and its bearing assemblies again inserted in the open ends of the plungers which are then secured in place. Gear e@ is now located at the opposite side and again in mesh with gear PCG. in order to lpermit this Anilox roll reversal, the roll must be symmetrical with the impression cylinder in either of its positions.

'Ilhe :above means and method of reversing the Anilox drive end is a practical one which can be done quickly; alternatively however, it would be possible to change the gear o@ to the other end of the shaft el to eiect mesh with the gear PCG.

Instead of the 57 tooth gear PCG, a different size gear can be installed on the plate cylinder shalt, for example, a 56 or a 5 8 tooth gear. Gears having a greater differential than this in the num-ber of teeth have not proved satisfactory because of the excessive skidding necessary between the cylinders, which results in poor printing. lt has been found possible, however, to use gears of one tooth more or les-s than the gear which matches exactly with the repeat length of the plate cylinder.

ln any event, after the 57 tooth gear PCGghas been fixed on the other end portion 33 of the plate cylinder shalt, and the Anilox roll reversed, a new gear PCG 58 (not shown), say one with 58 teeth, would be installed on portion 37 of shaft 36 for mesh with gear 75. The cornpensator assembly, that is gear 7S, would then be brought into proper mesh with the gear PCG 5S.

Diilerent sizes of plate cylinders, of course, will also 'need to be' interchangeable in the press but the total number of cylinde'rs required has been reduced to one-third of those conventionally required for a comparable range of work.

When a different size plate cylinder is installed, the printing pressure between this plate cylinder and impression cylinder can be adjusted, which will have the effect of creating a nip printing couple at a different circumferential location on the impression cylinder, as shown in FIGURE l. Nevertheless, after this adjustment has been made, the compensator assembly can accurately and quickly bring the new drive gear into proper driving engagement and pressure with the swinging gears and consequently the bull gear.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.

I claim:

l. Rotary printing press mechanism of thetype having a main yframe and an impression cylinder rotatably mounted in said main frame and a bull gear secured therewith, and a plate cylinder .shiftably mounted for engagement with said impression cylinder Iand having a shaft extending from each end, the improvement comprising, a removable gear selectively fixable on one end of said shaft or the other and having a number of teeth corresponding to the repeat length of said plate cylinder, at least one interchangeable gear adapted to be removably fixed on said one end of said shaft and having a number of teeth different from the repeat length of said plate cylinder, an Anilox roll engageable with and of a diameter which matches said plate cylinder, gear means on said Anilox roll, and means for removably mounting said gear means at either end of said Anilox roll for meshing with sai-d removable gear when the latter is fixed on either end of said shaft, a first gear mounted on said main frame and in constant mesh with said bull gear, and a second gear swingably mounted on said frame about the center of said first gear and in constant mesh therewith, said second gear being swingably adjustable for engagement with that gear which is removably fixed on said one end of said plate cylinder shaft.

2. Mechanism as set `forth in claim 1 further characterized in that said first and second gears are compound gears each having a helical gear in mesh with one another, and means .for axially adjusting said helical gears relative to one another to effect printing registration between said cylinders.

3. Mechanism as defined in claim 1 further characterized in that said last named means includes means for removably mounting said Anilox roll in said frame in either end-for-end position in which it is laterally symmetrical with said plate and impression cylinders, to permit said eshing of said Anilox roll gear means with said removable gear.

4. Rotary printing press mechanism comprising, a main frame, an impression cylinder rotatably mounted in said frame and having a bull gear secured therewith, a plate cylinder shiftably mounted for engagement with said impression cylinder and having a shaft extending from each end, a removable gear selectively fixable on one end of said shaft or the other land having a number of teeth corresponding to the repeat length of said plate cylinder, at least one interchangeable gear adapted to be removably fixed on said one end of said shaft and having a number of teeth different from the repeat length of said plate cylinder, an Anilox roll engageable with and matching said plate cylinder, gear means on said Anilox roll, and means for removably mounting said gear means at either end of said Anilox roll for meshing with said removable gear when the latter is fixed on either end of said shaft, a first gear mounted on an axis on said main frame and in constant mesh with said bull gear, and a second gear swingably mounted on said frame about said axis and in constant mesh with said first gear, said second gear being swingably adjustable for engagement with that gear which is removably fixed on said one end of said plate cylinder shaft.

5. Rotary printing press mechanism comprising, a main frame, an impression cylinder rotatably mounted in said frame and having a bull gear secured therewith, a plate cylinder `shiftably ymounted for engagement with said impression cylinder and having a shaft extending from each end, a removable `gear selectively iixable on one end of said shaft or the other and having a number of teeth corresponding to the repeat length of said plate cylinder, at least one interchangeable gear adapted to be removably fixed on said 4one end of said shaft and having a number of teeth different from the repeat length of said plate cylinder, an Anilox roll engageable with and matching said plate cylinder, gear means -on said Anilox roll, and means for removably mounting said gear means at either end of said Anilox roll for meshing with said removable gear when the latter is `fixed on either end ofl said shaft, a first compound gear mounted on an axis on said main frame and in constant mesh with said bull gear, a second compound gear swingably mounted on said frame about said axis and in constant mesh with said first compound gear, said second gear being swingably adjustable for engagement wit-h that gear which is removably fixed on said one end of said plate cylinder shaft, each ccmpound gear having a helical gear which mesh with one another, and means for axially adjusting `one helical gear relative to the other to effect printing registry between said plate and impression cylinders.

6. Rotary printing press mechanism comprising, a main frame, an impression cylinder rotatably mounted in said frame and having a b-ull gear secured therewith, a plate cylinder shiftably mounted for engagement with said impression cylinder and having a shaft extending from each end, a removable gear selectively fixable on one end of said shaft or the other and having a number of teeth corresponding to the Irepeat length of said plate cylinder, at least one interchangeable gear adapted to be removably fixed on said one end of said shaft and having a number of teeth different `from the repeat length of said plate cylinder, an Anilox roll engageable with and of a diameter which matches that of said plate cylinder, gear means fixed to one end of said Anilox roll, means for removably mounting said Anilox roll in said frame in either end-for-end position whereby said gear means can mesh with said removable gear when the latter is fixed on either end of said shaft, a first gear mounted on an axis on said main frame and in constant mesh with said bull gear, and .a second gear swingably mounted on said frat-ne about said axis and in constant mesh with said first gear, said second gear being swingably adjustable for engagement with that gear which is removably fixed on said one end ofsaid plate cylinder shaft.

7.` Rotary printing (press mechanism comprising, a main frame, an impression cylinder rotatably mounted in said frame and having a bu'll gear secured therewith, a plate cylinder having a shaft extending from each end, means for slidably mounting said plate cylinder toward and away-from said impression cylinder for adjusting the printing couple therebetween, a removable gear selectively fixable ton one end of said shafit or the other and having a number of teeth corresponding to the repeat length of said plate cylinder, at least one interchangeable gear adapted to be removably fixed on said one end of said shaft and having a number of teeth different from the repeat length of said plate cylinder, an Aniloxroll engageable with and matching said plate cylinder, gear i? i e said buil gear, a second compound gear swingaoly mount- Referenes Cited in the le of this patent ed on said frame about said `axis and in constant mesh UN-FED STATES PATENTS with Said' rst compound gear, said second gear being swngably adjustb'le for engagement with that gear which rtsehal fc its removably xed 0n said one end of said plate cylinder 5 2002584 Rcgqon n NEW' ,S 1935 shaft, each com-pound gear having a helical gear which 26601 15 Ras J "G," 54 19H mesh with Ione another, and means for axially adjusting 235906121 Auergr- Sep't 2g 1934 one helical gear relative to the other to effect printing 2,988,989 Crawford fune 20, 1951 registry `between said plate and impression cylinders. 3,025,793 Frostad Man 27, 1952 

1. ROTARY PRINTING PRESS MECHANISM OF THE TYPE HAVING A MAIN FRAME AND AN IMPRESSION CYLINDER ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID MAIN FRAME AND A BULL GEAR SECURED THEREWITH, AND A PLATE CYLINDER SHIFTABLY MOUNTED FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID IMPRESSION CYLINDER AND HAVING A SHAFT EXTENDING FROM EACH END, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING, A REMOVABLE GEAR SELECTIVELY FIXABLE ON ONE END OF SAID SHAFT OR THE OTHER AND HAVING A NUMBER OF TEETH CORRESPONDING TO THE REPEAT LENGTH OF SAID PLATE CYLINDER, AT LEAST ONE INTERCHANGEABLE GEAR ADAPTED TO BE REMOVABLY FIXED ON SAID ONE END OF SAID SHAFT AND HAVING A NUMBER OF TEETH DIFFERENT FROM THE REPEAT LENGTH OF SAID PLATE CYLINDER, AN ANILOX ROLL ENGAGEABLE WITH AND OF A DIAMETER WHICH MATCHES SAID PLATE CYLINDER, GEAR MEANS ON SAID ANILOX ROLL, AND MEANS FOR REMOVABLY MOUNTING SAID GEAR MEANS AT EITHER END OF SAID ANILOX ROLL FOR MESHING WITH SAID REMOVABLE GEAR WHEN THE LATTER IS FIXED ON EITHER END OF SAID SHAFT, A FIRST GEAR MOUNTED ON SAID MAIN FRAME AND IN CONSTANT MESH WITH SAID BULL GEAR, AND A SECOND GEAR SWINGABLY MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME ABOUT THE CENTER OF SAID FIRST GEAR AND IN CONSTANT MESH THEREWITH, SAID SECOND GEAR BEING SWINGABLY ADJUSTABLE FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH THAT GEAR WHICH IS REMOVABLY FIXED ON SAID ONE END OF SAID PLATE CYLINDER SHAFT. 